The Gloaming's self-titled album has been heralded as the Irish Album of the Year 2014 at the Meteor Choice Music Prize ceremony.
The winner was announced at Vicar Street this evening after live performances by nominated acts James Vincent McMorrow, Delorentos, We Cut Corners and The Riptide Movement, as well as nominees for Irish Song of the Year, Little Hours, The Minutes and Kormac.
The Gloaming are on tour so were not present to collect their award, but two of the band's partners were presented with a trophy and a cheque for €10,000 by chairman of the judging panel, arts journalist Tony Clayton-Lea, and previous winner Richie Egan of Jape. A panel of twelve media professionals had gathered to debate the list of ten albums before and during the ceremony.
The winner of Irish Song of the Year (decided by public vote) was also announced earlier in the evening, with The Script bagging the prize for their song Superheroes. They won a trophy and a cheque for €3,000. The Dublin band were also on tour, but sent a video message thanking fans for their votes.
Previous winners of the prize are:
2005: Julie Feeney - 13 Songs
2006: The Divine Comedy - Victory for the Comic Muse
2007: Super Extra Bonus Party - Super Extra Bonus Party
2008: Jape - Ritual
2009: Adrian Crowley - Season of the Sparks
2010: Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
2011: Jape - Ocean of Frequency
2012: Delorentos - Little Sparks
2013: Villagers - {Awayland}